USA > Massachusetts > Our western border : its life, combats, adventures, forays, massacres, captivities, scouts, red chiefs, pioneer women, one hundred years ago, containing the cream of all the rare old border chronicles > Part 52
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The Baron de Rosenthal died in 1830, and so the name of this brave and patriotic Russian must be added to those of Lafayette, Steuben, Pulaski, De Kalb, and the galaxy of noble foreigners who made haste to peril their lives in our Revolutionary struggle.
CHAPTER VIT
GENERAL GEORGE ROGERS CLARK.
THE HANNIBAL OF THE WEST-HIS HEROIC DEEDS.
The forest aisles are full of story; Here many a one of old renown, First sought the meteor-light of glory, And 'mid its transient flush went down.
One of the most remarkable men this country ever produced was George Rogers Clark. Americans have not yet learned to appreciate the force and power of his character, or the great importance of his conquests. Why such a hero never found scope and opportunity for his undoubted military talents, backed by an extraordinary sagacity and intrepidity, is one of the mysteries of the past. " When," said Joseph Davies, in one of his finest orations, "I contemplate the character of George Rogers Clark, I feel as did Moses when he drew near the burn- ing bush, that I ought to put the shoes from off my feet, for the place whereon I stand is holy ground."
It is scarcely too much to say that but for him the valleys of the Lower Ohio and Upper Mississippi would not have belonged to the United States at the close of the Revolution. When, therefore, that prescient conqueror ran up the stars and stripes over the English fortifi- cations of Kaskaskia, Illinois, and Vincennes, Indiana, he virtually added the whole of the vast and magnificent territory dominated from those centres, to his beloved country.
General Clark was born in Albemarle county, Va., in 1752, and like Washington and many of the most prominent and influential actors in the old times that " tried men's souls," was a land surveyor. He commanded a company in Dunmore's war, and in 1775, drawn thither by a love of adventure and probably by a forecast of its glorious fu- ture, he drifted to Kentucky and remained there until Fall, familiariz- ing himself with the character of the people and the resources of the country. Young as he was, his commanding talents must at once have
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OUR WESTERN BORDER.
inspired confidence. He was one of the few whom all are prompt to recognize as a born leader, and we find him temporarily placed in com- mand of the irregular militia of Kentucky. He returned East to make preparations for a permanent residence in the West, and revisited Ken- tucky in the Spring of 1776.
His second appearance there, as related by General Ray, is interest- ing. "I had come down to where I now live (about four miles north of Harrodsburg) to turn some horses into the range. I had killed a small blue-wing duck that was feeding in our spring, and had roasted it nicely on the brow of the hill, near our house. After having taken it off to cool, I was much surprised on being suddenly arrested by a fine svidierly-looking man, who exclaimed, ' How do you do, my little fel- low? What's your name? Ain't you afraid of being in the woods by yourself?' On satisfying his inquiries, I invited the traveler to partake of my duck, which he did without leaving me a bone to pick, his appe- tite was so keen." After satisfying Clark's appetite, Ray inquired of the stranger his own name and his business in that remote region. "My name is Clark," he answered, "and I have come out to see what you brave fellows are doing in Kentucky, and to lend you a helping hand if necessary." General Ray, then but a boy of sixteen, conducted Clark to Harrodsburg.
He almost immediately proved that he had a sagacity and compre- hensiveness far beyond the ordinary pioneer. He was not merely con- tent like the average run of western adventurers with planting, hunting or battling with Indians. The Revolution was now in full progress, and his patriotic soul was fired with lofty views affairs of state and far- reaching schemes of daring emprise. His reflections and self-commun- ings taught him at once the importance of a more thorough, organized and extensive system of public defence and military operations. He speedily, therefore, suggested to the Kentucky settlers the importance of a general convention in order to form a closer and more definite con- nection with Virginia. The proposed assembly was held at Harrods- burg, and Clark and Jones were chosen members of the Assembly of Virginia, of which State Kentucky was then considered an appanage, ยท if not an integral part. Clark's earnest desire was to negotiate with Virginia, and should it refuse to recognize Kentucky as within its juris- diction and under its immediate protection, then he proposed to offer lands to attract settlers and establish an independent State.
On Clark's arrival in Virginia, the Legislature stood adjourned, but he at once waited on Governor Henry, and stated plainly the objects of his journey making application for five hundred weight of gun- powder. But the Kentuckians had not yet been recognized as Virgin-
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CHARACTER OF THE BORDER WARFARE OF THAT DAY.
ians, and the Council could only offer to lend the gunpowder as to friends and not give it to them as to fellow-citizens having just claims upon the parent State. At the same time they required Clark to be personally responsible for the powder and the expense of conveying it West.
This would not suit Clark and he declined ; representing that British agents were employing every means to engage Indians in the war ; that the frontier people might be exterminated for want of the means of defence, and that then the fury of the savages would burst like a tempest over Virginia itself. The Council remained deaf and inexorable, and declared they could do no more. Clark promptly and peremptorily wrote declining to accept the powder on the conditions named, intimat- ing his design of applying elsewhere, and significantly added : "That a country which was not worth defending was not worth claiming."
On receipt of this pregnant letter the Council recalled Clark to their presence and gave him an order for the transmission of the powder to Pittsburgh, to be then delivered to him, or order, for the use of Ken- tucky. At the Fall session of the Legislature he obtained a full recogni- tion of the County of Kentucky and thus became the founder of that Commonwealth.
Clark now proceeded to Fort Pitt and with seven boatmen embarked with the so much needed powder. At that time the whole country swarmed with hostile bands of savages, and the greatest caution was exercised. They were hotly pursued the whole way, but succeeded in making good their landing at Limestone, Kentucky, and in securely caching their cargo at different places in the woods.
CHARACTER OF THE BORDER WARFARE OF THAT DAY.
Clark now began to be looked up to as a brave, intrepid and able commander, and one of the master spirits of the time. We cannot enter into details-exciting and interesting as they were-of the many adventurous excursions he successfully headed, but shall proceed at once to notice the scheme which he had so much at heart. He had entered into the hazardous forest life of the borderer with as much zest and vigor as the very best of them all. Appareled in hunting shirt and moccasins, with rifle and tomahawk in hand, he had fought the wily savage, hand to hand and foot to foot ; but he plainly had an ambition far beyond mere bushwhacking and forest ranging, stirring and exciting as the life had proved. His genius soared to a broader sweep, and his eager and aspiring soul brooded over masterful schemes of which his followers never dreamed.
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OUR WESTERN BORDER.
With that practical and far-reaching sagacity which rendered him so conspicuous above his fellows, he saw plainly that the borderers were playing a losing game, and exhausting themselves in petty skirmishes and desperate combats without making any single serious impression upon their swarming adversaries. He early saw the paramount neces- sity of "carrying the war into Africa"-of making it felt by the sav- ages at home; by the destruction of their crops, their towns and all the " habitations of cruelty." His motto was, " never suffer an incursion from Indians without retaliating by a return incursion into the very heart of their own territory."
Looking farther and more deeply he at once recognized the undoubted fact that all the savage forays and smitings of the border had their inspiration from the British posts and forts which stretched from Ontario to the Mississippi. These were the parent fountains whence all the lit- tle runs and rills of invasion proceeded. It was from the British that arms, provisions, ammunition, and " bloody instructions " emanated. Why not strike at the root of the matter by wresting these central posts from his country's foes ! Thus only could Kentucky enjoy permanent rest and peace within all her broad borders.
The war in Kentucky had hitherto been a mere border war, conducted in the spasmodic and desultory manner incident to that kind of hostil- ities. Nearly all the military operations of the period resembled more the predatory exploits of those sturdy cattle-lifters and stark moss- troopers of the Scottish Highlands. The intrepid backwoodsman would sharpen his hunting knife, shoulder his unerring rifle, fill his pouch with pone or parched corn, and thus equipped, would start for a fighting frolic in the Indian country, without beat of drum or other note of warning. Arrived on hostile soil, his roving eye was on the alert ; his step grew stealthy as the panther's. With padded feet he would creep up to the neighborhood of some Indian hamlet and lie in ambush until opportunity offered to steal a horse or shoot its owner. All this was promotive of desperate combats and countless deeds of personal valor and strange adventure, but it settled nothing. Neither Virginia nor the General Government-engaged in a gigantic struggle with all Britain's power-could lend any systematic aid.
Clark pondered over all this; saw where the error lay; sought ear- nestly to correct it, and kept looking with his "mind's eye" ever to Detroit, Kaskaskia and Vincennes. It was with plans fully matured and with his whole soul strongly imbued with the ambition of reducing these posts, that, in the Summer of '78, he dispatched two spies to recon- noitre. They brought back reports both assuring and alarming. As- suring, because the forts were represented as negligently guarded, and
18.1
GENERAL CLARK'S SECRET ADVANCE ON KASKASKIA.
the French about them were more inclined to the American than to the British side. Alarming, because there was great activity among the garrisons, and no effort was spared in promoting and fitting out Indian raids and marauds against the Kentucky border. Clark hastened to submit his plan of the reduction of these forts to the Virginia Execu- tive. He asked small aid, and his plans were approved by both Gov- ernor and Council. He received two sets of instructions-one public, the other secret. Twelve hundred pounds were advanced, orders issued at Fort Pitt for boats, arms and ammunition, and a force of four com- panies rigidly selected from Virginia and Kentucky, was soon assembled at the Falls of the Ohio, afterwards Louisville.
.
GENERAL CLARK'S SECRET ADVANCE ON KASKASKIA.
All being in readiness, the intrepid and adventurous little band em- barked in boats down the Ohio. At the mouth of the Tennessee river they learned from a party of hunters, but recently arrived from Kas- kaskia, that the garrison there was commanded by one M. Rocheblave; that the militia were maintained in a high state of discipline; that spies were stationed on the Mississippi river, and that a sharp lookout was kept for the Kentuckians. They learned further that the fort which commanded the old French town was without a regular garrison, and that the military defences were kept up merely as a matter of form. The hunters thought the place might easily be taken by surprise, and they were accepted as guides. The boats were dropped down to old Fort Massac, about forty miles from the Ohio mouth, and concealed in a creek on the Illinois side, and now the fearless little army took up its wilderness march through ponds, cypress-swamps, and over deep and muddy streams. Game was scarce, and to send out hunting parties would expose them to discovery. Drinking water was scarce, and in the prairies the wearied men were beaten upon with a fierce July sun. On the third day the guide became bewildered. The intolerant Ken- tuckians became suspicious and demanded his death. The poor fellow begged that he might go a little further under a guard. In a short time he joyfully exclaimed: "I know that point of timber," and pointed out the direction of Kaskaskia. It was on the 4th of July-not then a: day of note-that this unflinching band of invaders, with garments boiled and travel-stained, and with beards of three weeks' growth, secreted themselves near to the town, but on the other side of Kaskaskia .iver.
That night Clark sent forward his spies, put his impatient command in motion, divided it into two parts, one of which was ordered to cross,
31
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OUR WESTERN BORDER.
the river, while Colonel Clark himself should take possession of the fort. Kaskaskia contained about two hundred and fifty houses, and its inhab- itants were French, who had heard the most exaggerated reports of the fierceness and cruelty of the bloody "Long Knives" of Virginia. Both divisions met with success. The unsuspecting little village was entered at either extreme; its quiet streets were filled with furious yells, and it was proclaimed, in French, that all should keep their houses on pain of instant death. In a moment the panic-stricken men, women and children were screaming in the greatest distress, "The Long Knives ! the Long Knives !"
In the meantime Clark had broken into the fort and secured Roche- blave and his little garrison, but his papers, &c., had been concealed or destroyed by his wife. The victory was complete, though not a drop of blood had been shed. Observing the great dread the simple inhabi- tants entertained for those they had been taught to believe little less than savages, Clark determined, for wise ends, to play upon their fears, and ordered his wild Virginia troops to rush through the streets with yells and whoopings after the Indian fashion. Clark had determined to win all the French inhabitants to the American side, so, taking possession of the house of Monsieur Cerre, the richest and most influential citizen, he prevented all intercourse between his own men and the frightened citi- zens, and treated all those who came to beg protection with the greatest rigor and harshness. The wretched and trembling citizens were for five days kept thus in a state of consternation. The troops were then moved to the outskirts, and the citizens permitted to walk the streets again.
Clark now ordered the chief of them to be thrown in irons, without assigning reasons or permitting a word of defencc. After a strategic delay, M. Gibault, the revered priest of the parish, obtained leave, with five or six of the chief citizens, to wait deferentially upon the cruel and ferocious Kentucky commander. The priest now, in the most sub- missive tone and posture, remarked that the inhabitants expected to be separated, perhaps never to meet again, and begged, as a great favor, that they might assemble in their church, offer up prayers to God, and take a long leave of each other. Colonel Clark observed, with ap- parent indifference, that Americans did not trouble themselves about the religion of others, but left every man to worship God in his own way; they might meet in the church if they would, but on no account must a single person leave the town. The conference was abruptly ter- minated and the deputation dismissed.
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COLONEL CLARK'S POLICY AT KASKASKIA.
COLONEL CLARK'S POLICY AT KASKASKIA-SINGULAR SCENES.
The whole population now assembled in their church, mournfully chanted their prayers, and tearfully bade each other farewell. The priest and deputation then returned to Clark's lodgings and thanked him for the favor granted ; they were willing to submit to the loss of their property, as the fate of war, but begged they might not be sepa- rated from their families, and that enough clothes and provisions might be allowed, sufficient, at least, for their necessities.
Clark, seeing that their fears had been raised to the pitch required, thus abruptly addressed them : " Who do you take me to be? Do you think we are savages, and that we intend to massacre you all? Do you think Americans will strip women and children and take the very bread out of their mouths? My countrymen never make war upon the inno- cent. It was to protect our own wives and children that we penetrated into this wilderness, to subdue these British posts, whence the savages are supplied with arms and ammunition to murder us. We do not war against Frenchmen. The King of France, your former master, is now our ally. His ships and soldiers are now fighting for the Americans. The French are our firm friends. Go and enjoy your religion, and worship where and when you please. Retain your property, and please inform all your citizens for me that they must dismiss all alarm and conduct themselves as usual. We are your friends instead of enemies, and came to deliver you from the British."
The total reaction of feeling occasioned by this timely and politic speech may be imagined. The deputation could scarce believe their own ears. The joyful news soon spread ; the bells rang"a merry peal ; the streets were decorated with flowers and banners; the people again assembled in the church and sang a Te Deum, and the most uproarious joy prevailed throughout the whole night. All now cheerfully acknowl- edged Colonel Clark as commandant of the country, and several Kas- kaskia gentlemen even accompanied Major Bowman's detachment-who were all mounted on French ponies-to surprise the post of Cahokia (opposite the city of St. Louis). The plan was entirely successful, and the post was secured without a wound or a drop of blood.
Colonel Clark now turned his attention to Vincennes, situate on the Wabash, fully satisfied that until that important point was reduced, he had really gained little or nothing. His uneasiness was great and his situation critical. His force was too small to garrison Kaskaskia and Cahokia and leave sufficient men to reduce Vincennes by open assault. M. Gibault was consulted and agreed, the British commandant at Vin-
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OUR WESTERN BORDER.
cennes having gone to Detroit, to bring the people of that post over to the views of the Americans. This project was completely successful, and in a few days the American flag was raised over that fort, too, and Captain Helm appointed to the command. Gibault and party, with several gentlemen from Vincennes, returned to Kaskaskia and reported all working charmingly. Clark was somewhat at a loss how now to act - as his instructions were vague and general, and the period of his men's enlistment had now expired, the objects being fully accom- plished. To abandon the country now would be to lose all that was gained, and so the commander, always fertile in expedients, opened a new enlistment and even issued commissions to French officers to com- mand home guards. He then established garrisons and at length was free to turn his whole attention to the surrounding Indian tribes. .
The whole narrative concerning his negotiations with the Indian chiefs is replete with interest, but, in a brief and summary sketch like this, gives us no room for details. It was in this wild and dangerous diplomacy that Clark's peculiar talents showed illustriously. He thoroughly understood the Indian character in all its strength and weak- ness, and managed them with a masterful adroitness. He knew exactly when to be stern and inflexible, and when to be mild and conciliating. The tact and dexterous address with which he played upon their fears, their passions and their hopes and ambitions, was truly wonderful.
BIG GATE WON OVER-SOME CHIEFS THROWN INTO IRONS.
The chief of greatest command and influence at that time was known as Big Gate, or by the Indians as "The Grand Door to the Wabash," be- cause nothing could be done by the Indian confederacy of that region without his approbation.
A grand " talk " was soon arranged with him by Captain Helm. These Indians had been under British pay and influence, and had done no small amount of mischief along the border. Clark, in his journal, states that he always thought it a mistaken notion, that soft speeches were best for Indians ; he had carefully studied the French and Spanish modes of dealing with savages, and they exactly comported with his own. Under his instructions Big Gate was won over by Captain Helm. Letters were sent with belts of wampum to other chiefs of influence, " giving," as Clark writes, " harsh language to supply the want of men."
They were invited to lay down the tomahawk, but if they did not choose that, to fight for the English openly and like men, but they would soon see their Great Father, as they called him, given to the dogs to eat. If, however, they would give their hands to the Big Knives, they
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SOME CHIEFS THROWN INTO IRONS.
must give their hearts also. This bold language won the pompous chiefs. They replied that the Americans must be men or they would never have spoken as they did ; that they liked such people; that the English were base liars, and that they had as much reason to fight them as the Amer- icans had. This last clause had reference to an artful exposition of the cause of the war between the Americans and English, illustrated and made plain to their understandings by means of a fable. It did more service, quaintly writes Clark, than could have done a regiment of men.
Amazing numbers of the Indians soon flocked into Cahokia to hear what the Big Knives had to say. They came from regions five hun- dred miles distant, and represented Chippewas, Ottawas, Pottawatta- mies, Sacks, Foxes, Maumies, and a number of distant and powerful tribes living about the lakes and the upper Mississippi, and who all had known very little about the Americans, but had been put under the in- fluence of the French posts and, after, the British posts. Clark con- fesses that he was under much apprehension " among such a number of devils and it proved to be just, for the second night a party of Puans, or Meadow Indians, endeavored to force the guards off my lodgings and to bear me off, but were happily made prisoners. The town took alarm and was immediately under arms, which convinced the savages that the French were in our interest."
Following out his principles-never to court Indians ; never to load them with presents ; never to seem to fear them, though always to show respect to courage and ability, and to speak in the most direct and hon- est manner possible, he waited for the assembled chiefs to make the first advances and offers for peace. But first, regarding the chiefs who had been at the head of the movement to break into his quarters, he ordered them to be put in irons. They alleged in excuse that they had no ill design, but only wished to know whether the French would take part with the Americans or not. This treatment of some of the principal chiefs produced much excitement among the rest. The captured chiefs submissively desired an interview with Clark, but were refused. They then made interest with the other chiefs for a conference, but Clark strengthened his guards and sent them word that he believed they were all a set of villains and were on the English side; that they were wel- come to abide by the side they had espoused, but that he was a man and a warrior, did not care who were friends or foes, and would have nothing more to say to any of them. The whole town was much alarmed at this bold and arrogant course, and, indeed, considering the mere handful of men Clark had, many of his command having gone home, it does look like a rash presumption and over confidence on his - part, but it had its effect, and at once.
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OUR WESTERN BORDER.
To show the Indians that he disregarded them, Clark remained in his lodgings in the town about a hundred yards from the fort and seemingly without a guard, although he had taken the precaution to conceal a party of fifty picked men in an adjoining parlor and to keep the garri- son under arms. There was a great pow-wowing among the savages during the whole night, but instead of showing the slightest anxiety Clark invited a number of the gay French ladies and gents of the town and danced nearly the whole night.
In the morning the Colonel summoned the different nations to a grand council, first releasing the incarcerated chiefs and admitting them, too, to seats. After the pompous ceremonies were over, Clark prompt- ly produced a bloody or war belt of wampum and made them a plain, strong, and uncommonly bold and effective speech, in which he told them that he knew they were on the British side ; that he did not blame them for it, but wished them to fight like brave men ; that he scorned to take any mean advantage of the British by asking any of their allies to desert them; that there were none but Americans who would not have put them to death for their late bad behavior, but that he cared not for them and they were at perfect liberty to do as they pleased and go where they pleased, but they must behave like men ; that he would have them escorted out of the village and they should not do any mis- chief for three days : after that he would fight them. If they did not want all their women and children to be massacred, they must instantly leave off killing those of the whites ; that there was the war belt to take or leave as it pleased them, and it would soon be seen which party would make it the most bloody. Clark then said that it was customary among brave warriors to treat their enemies well; that, therefore, he should give them provisions and rum while they stayed, but that by their late behavior he could not deem them brave men, therefore, he did not care how soon they cleared off.
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